Advancement and improvement are an inevitable part of human life. Ever since man first learned to make fires and invented the wheel, the direction of growth has only been upwards. In the recent century or so, the way of life has changed drastically. One cannot compare lifestyles which barely 10 years apart. One instrumental factor is technology, and mankind is heading to a golden age of information and progress.

One important aspect of our everyday lives, transport, has also seen a tremendous change. From newer vehicles to cheaper air-fares and faster locomotives, there is no stopping the engine of change.

The Indian Railways, the most widely used public transport sector in the whole country, ferries over 8 billion passengers annually. This number is set to keep climbing as time goes on. In order to provide a fast and efficient experience for passengers, the Railways have the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO). They work on projects to develop the railways’ ageing infrastructure and sub-par features. This sub-division, under the direct control of the government, has pledged to invest over 13 billion dollars by 2021 to see a complete overhaul of the IR.

Some of its undertakings, which will bring IR enormous change, are:

• Electrification: Nearly half of all the tracks that run in India have been electrified, and plans are in full effect to fully electrify all tracks by the start of 2017. A shift to solar and wind energy is underway, with solar-roofs and windmills, capable of producing 1gigawatt and 140megawatt of power respectively; being installed in stations and trains all over the country.

India is the first country to introduce a fully solar-powered train, along with LED lighting systems in most trains to make it eco-friendly. A new deal with a French locomotive company was struck, that will introduce state-of-the-art electric trains by 2028.

• Infrastructure: A brand new system, called High-Speed Rail (HSR), is being introduced in the Mumbai- Ahmadabad region, with operations beginning in 2022. Doubling rail tracks, refurbishing old coaches, enhancing fire safety standards, GPS tracking for every train and a redevelopment plan for nearly 400 stations are some of the infrastructural undertakings. Digitization the full railway system is in progress, to make it more efficient and reduce costs.
• Safety: Projects are in place to remove nearly 1000 plus level crossings and instead replace it with over and underpasses each year. Fire safety rules have been updated and a fully automated system was introduced in 2013. All trains with air conditioning now have access to this feature. A state-of-the-art Fog-pilot assistance system has been put in place. Four zones now utilize the full capability of this system.

The entire booking platform is now online and has greatly increased convenience. Features like running status, PNR, departure and arrival timings and a multitude of information are available on various travel websites. Technical advancement and a good investment from the Indian Government are the required catalysts to send the Railways into an age of prosperity. The IR is one of the world’s largest employers, and with more work to come, that number is only going to rise.